Demountable attachment for tractors



Jlan.- 1, 1924 `1,479,422-

. I J. F. BAILEY vDEH/LQUN'TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR TRAGTORS Filed July 24, 122 2 sheets-Shet 2 [millililisllllllllllll ZZ 232 l mmm-lof' /NvEA/To A TTOR/VEYS shown/in Figure 1, illustrating the manner Patented Jan. i, 1924.

f intatta JAMES F. BAILEY, 0F COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

DEMYOUNTABLE ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTOBS.

Application med July 24, 1922. serial No. 577,153.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it'known that I. JAMES F. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Columbia, in the county of Richland and State of South Carolina, have invented certain` new and useful Improvements in De- ,nmountable yAttachments for Tractors, of

which the Yfollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a demountable attachment for tractors having the` general form of a running gear construction of a truck adapted to support heavy articles, whereby articles ma be transported' by a tractor equipped wit my inventioniin the same manner as such articles would be ordinarly transported in automotive trucks of conventional construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide an attachment, of the character described which isadapted to be detachably secured to tractors of ordinary types of construction without any extensive changes being required in the construction of the tractor. and to then track properly with the tractor, without appreciably retardingthe progress of the latter.

A further object of my invention is to provide in an attachment of the character describeda frame adapted to be attached toy l fixed parts of a tractor, wheels for supporting-the frame, and a novel sprin suspensionarrangement for mounting t ei. frame.

upon the wheels.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in an attachment of the character described a power take-off arrangement, from which power may be transmitted to desirable places for use as desired. l

Other objects and advantages will be ap` parent from the following description, and the novel features of the invention willbe particularly outlined in the appended claims.

A practical'embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, folrlmlilng a part of this application, in w 1c Figure 1 is a side elevation of a'tractor Y of a well known type of construction equipped with the attachment, portions of the tractor beingbroken away, v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front portion of the structure of detachably securing the frame of the attachment to the tractor,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, a tractor of a wellknown type of construction -isindica-ted generally at 1 and includes the usual front suspension frame 2 to which a front `'axle 3 is attached and the usual rear or drive axle 4.

An attachment embodyin the invention, as illustrated, comprises a rame consisting of a pair of spaced apart longitudinal mem- .bers 5 5, each of whiih consists of a rear section 6 and a front section 7 and a cross member 8 connecting the side members at the rearward extremities of the rear sections 6 6. The side members 5 5 may be stayed to the cross member 8 through the agency of diagonal bars 9 9.

The rear sections 6 6 of the side frame members are preferably of channel formation and are arranged with the iianged portions thereof horizontally disposed and extending toward each other. Each of the front sections 7 of the side frame members preferably has the form of an angle bar and is arranged with one leg thereof vertically disposed while the other leg rests adjacent to its rearward end upon a block 10 which may be a part of the housing of the rear axle of the-tractor. The blocks 10 upon which the respective front sections 7 7 of the side frame members of the attachment rest are located adjacent to the opposite ends of the housing of the tractor drive axle 4 and the sections 7 7 are rigidly secured to such blocks by means of bolts 1l or like fastening`devices. The forward end portions of the sections 6 6 rest upon the horizontal anges of a portion mf the sections 7 7 which are superimposed upon'the blocks 10 and in contiguous relation to the inner walls of the vertical anges of such portions, being secured to both horizontal and vertical flanges of the said portions ofthe front sections 7 7 by means of bolts.

The bolts which secure the lowermost horizontal flange of the channel-shaped rear sections 6 6 to the underlying leg of the front sections 7 7 may be the bolts 11 which secure the front sections to the blocks 10, and the bolts'which secure the vertical web ortion of the rear sections to the vertical anges of the front sections of the side frame members are des# ignated 12. Obviousl other fastening devices than the bolts il ustrated may be usedA to effect the connection of the front and rear sections of the side frame members.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a substantially U-shaped yoke 13 is provided by my invention as the connection between the forward ends of the sections 7-7 of the side frame members and the front suspension frame of the tractor. The web por-v tion of the U-shaped yoke or connector is pivotally attached intermediately to the suspension member 2, as at 14 at the rear of the front axle 3 so that the web portion of the yoke extends transversely of the tractor and the arms thereof extend upwardly at opposite sides of the radiator 14 of the tractor, being bent rearwardly adjacent to their upper ends to provide horizontally' disposed attaching portions 15-15 which underlie the front end portions of the sections 7--7 and to which the latter are secured by bolts 16 or like fastening devices. The forward sections 7-7 of the side frame members converge from their points of juncture with the rear sections 6--6 towardtheir points of juncture with the attaching portions 15. i

The frame of the attachment is movably l supported upon ground wheels 17,' there being a wheel 17 secured at each end of an axle or axles 18.

While I have illustrated the attachment as including two of the axles 18 and two pairs of the ground wheels 17, it will be apparent that I may support the frame' of the attachment upon one pair of the ground wheels 17 or may employ a greater number of pairs of ground wheels 17 than that shown without eparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Each of the axles 18 extends through an axle housing v19 having blocks 20-20 secured thereon adjacent to thev inner portions of the side frame members. A pair of semi` elliptical leaf springs 21V are provided for each of the axle housings 19 and each leaf spring 21 is vsecured intermediately by shackle bolts 22 or the like in superimposed relation to one of the blocks 2 The end portions of the springs 21 divrg outwardly and u wardly in respect to each other and have c ip portions 23 at their outer ends.

In' the embodiment of the invention illus trated, the clip portions 23 at the rearward ends of the rearmost pair-of spring members 21 are journals for a suspension rod 24 which extends transversel of the frameand is swingingly supported a jacent to its opposite ends upon a fixed suspension member 25 by means of suspension links 26.

The ends of the fixed suspension rod 25 are supported by the side frame members of the attachment. The portions 23 at the forward ends of .the rearmost pair of spring members. const1tute journals for a suspension rod 26 which is arranged to lie in the plane of the ixed suspension rod 25 and has its ends supported by the side members of the frame of the attachment.

The clip portions at both the rearward and forward ends of the forward pair of spring members 21 serve as journals for holding suspension rods 27v which are swlngingly supported by suspension links 28 upon fixed rods 29 lying in the plane of the rods 25 and 26 and also having their end portions sup'ported by the side members of the frame.

With the organization described, the .frame of the attachment will be iexibly supported above the axle housings 19 and in spaced relation thereto', whereby shocks and jars occasioned by ine ualitie of road surface and communicate to the axle housings will be dissipated to a considerable extent without bein transmitted to the frame. The ground w eels 17 may be equipped with pneumatic or solid tires, as preferred. The axle housings 19 are spaced apart when twoA of these housings are provided by means of thrust bars 30, each of which comprises two formed integrally with blocks 37 secured to 1 the under sides of the sections 6-6 nf the side framev members adjacent to the juncture of the latter with a cross frame member 38. The struts 34 may comprise axially aligned sections adj ustably connected by turn buckles 39. is preferably stayed to the sections 6-6 of the side frame members of the frame by diagonally extending braces 40.v

vA transversely extendin 41 is supported upon the ame in brackets The cross frame member 38.

rotatable shaft i or bearings 42 securedupon the sections ,c

6-6 of the side frarnemembers adjacent to the forward ends thereof and in superimposed relation thereto. 'The shaft 41 is provided at its one end with a fiy wheel 43 secured thereto and at its other end with adrum 44 lor other known device for transmitting powerfromthe shaft 41 to a deter- V mined place. A' sprocket 45 secured tothe shaft 41 is driven bya chain connection 46 froma sprocket 47 secured u on al rotating part 48 of an engine 49 whic constitutes a part of the tractor 1.

When an attachment embodying the invention is applied to a tractor, the rear ground or drive wheels of the tractor are removed and power is transmitted from the none being shown, may

engine of the tractor to the wheels 17 of the attachment to effect propulsion of the tractor and attachment thereto as a unit. To this end, sprockets are secured to the rear or drive axle 4 ofthe tractor adjacent to the opposite ends thereof. Sprockets 51 are secured to the axles 18 at opposite sides of the frame of the attachment. Chains 52 are trained about the sprockets 50 and the sprockets 51 at the ends of the foremost axle 18. Chains 53 are trained about the s rockets 51' on the rearmost axle 18 and a out other sprockets which are secured to the foremost axle 18.

Obviously,` any other known transmission means may be employed to transmit power from the engine 49 or rather from the rear axle 4 of the tractor to the axle or axles 18 in lieu of the s rocket and chain arrangement described. owever, the sprocket and chain arrangement described and illustrated is preferred by me at present.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation of the same may be readily understood. A. tractor may be employed in the transportation of loads ordinarily requiring the use of a truck when an attachment embodying my invention is applied thereto, in the manner described. Since the attachment is demountable, the tractor' may be used in performing the functions for which originally provided when not being used in the transportation of materials. Any suitable body, be sup orted upon the frame of the attachment and) power may be transmitted from the power ytake ott' drum 44 to tilt a body and dump the loadthereof if the body is pivotally attached to the frame of the attachment, as is usual in trucks of conventional construction.

The attachment may be provided with any suitable known braking arrangement for use when required, none being shown.

While I have shownthe attachment as being applied to a tractor of the Fordson t pe of construction, it will be understood t at the attachment may be operatively applied to tractors of other types of construction, without any material changes in the construction ofsu'ch attachment being required. I therefore do not care to be restricted to the form of the device illustrated in the attached drawings, but consider as my own all modifications and adaptations thereof which fairly fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what l' claim is 1. A demountable attachment for tractors comprising a frame including side members havin forward end ortions adapted to extend orwardly of t e rear portions of a tractor and converging toward each other 'at their forward ends, means connecting with the forwardly extending portions of the side members of the frame at the forward ends thereof forl detachably securing suchA forwardly extending portions to a fixed part of the tractor, an axle housing extending transversely of the frame substantiallyl intermediate of the length of the latter, spring suspension means connecting the-axle housing with the side members of the frame, an axle journaled in the housing and having the end portions thereof projecting beyond the ends of the housing, wheels secured to the end portions of the axle for movably supporting the frame to track with the' tractor, a transversely extending shaft rotatably supported upon the frame of the at@ tachment, a power transmission device secured tothe shaft, and other transmission means having connection with the shaft and being adapted for engagement with a driven plarfttof the tractor to eect rotation of the s a 2. The combination with a tractor of a frame comprising horizontally disposed side members including front end portions extending beyond the rearward end of the tractor at opposite sides thereof, means connecting with the forwardly extending end portionsof the side members of the frame and connecting said end portions with a fixed part of the tractor, an axle disposed transversely of the frame, spring suspension means for supporting the frame u on the axle, wheels mounted upon the ax e adjacent to the ends thereof, power transmitting elements mounted upon the drive axle of the tractor and replacing the usual drive wheels of the tractor, power transmission elements, associated'with the wheels of the tractor and being adapted to co-operate with the rst named power transmission elements, and means connecting each of said first named power transmission elements u with one of said secondl named power transmittn elements for imparting a torque from t e former to the latter.

3. A demountably supported attachment for tractors comprising a frame mounted upon wheels and having side members adapted to extend forwardly of the rear end of the tractor along opposite sides thereof and to converge toward each other at their forward ends, a substantially U-shaped yoke adapted for attachment intermediately to` che front suspension structure of the tractor, said yoke having upwardly and outwardly diver 'ng arms provided with rearwardly exten lng horizontal end portions underlying the forward end portions of the side members of the frame and being secured to the latter and other means securing the side frame members of the attachment to. fixed parts of the tractor at appreciable distances rearwardl of the forward extremities of the side me members.

4. demountably supported attachment U-shaped yoke adaptedfor attachment infor tractors comprising a frame mounted termediately to the front suspension strucupon Wheelsl and having side members ture of the tractor, the arms of the yoke 10 /adapted to extend forwardly of the rear being adapted for connection with the Side 5 end of the tractorA along opposite sides members of said frame.

thereof and to converge toward each other at their forwardl ends, and a substantially 

